Not feeling the recovery? You're not the only oneIncomes are up, the stock market is soaring, and home prices have largely recovered from the mortgage meltdown. But Americans still haven't regained all the wealth they lost and, on the whole, are worse off than in 1998. The Federal Reserve's just-released Survey of Consumer Finances, done every three years, tells a stubbornly grim tale. Median net worth for all families, measured in 2016 dollars, dropped 8 percent since 1998. (The survey's de...

More border crossers prosecuted in 'new era' of law enforcementPHOENIX -- When U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered his get-tough-on-immigration speech in the border city of Nogales early this year, he promised a "new era" in immigration enforcement. Six months later, some of those promises are taking shape in federal court, but through the expansion of a nearly decade-old program known as Operation Streamline, in which immigrants accused of coming into the U.S. illegally complete a usually month...

Arkansas revenue falls $36M below projectionsLITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas finance officials say the state's revenue for the fiscal year so far has fallen $36 million below forecast after a drop in corporate and sales tax collections. The Department of Finance and Administration on Thursday said the state's net available revenue for October totaled $414.5 million, which is $24.5 million below the same month last year and $38.5 million below forecast. The state's net available revenue for the f...

Bergdahl apologizes to those injuredFORT BRAGG, N.C. -- In an unexpected and emotional statement, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl apologized in court Monday to all the military personnel who were wounded searching for him and described the daily nightmares and flashbacks to his five years in captivity of Taliban allies he still endures. Bergdahl was the first witness in what's expected to be a multi-day presentation by the defense to the judge who will decide his punishment for endanger...

Liz Weston: Equifax hack isn't over, more risks aheadLong after the Equifax breach was announced, people were still struggling to freeze their credit reports as credit bureau websites failed, lured people to look-alike products or even redirected visitors to download malicious software. But that's just the start of the gauntlet people may have to run to protect their financial lives. The Equifax hack exposed the names, addresses, birthdates and Social Security numbers of up to 145.5 million Amer...

Share your thoughts: The Arbors and related zoning controversyThe planned development of a senior living facility on Marina Way in Russellville has generated controversy since shortly after developers announced their intentions. Developers have said The Arbors will be an upscale 75-bed assisted living facility, similar to Fox Ridge Estates and Mount Carmel at Hot Springs Village . The plans call for a resort-style facility on a 20-acre lot with a scenic view of Lake Dardanelle. In order to proceed with b...

Holocaust Survivor SeriesHolocaust Survivor Series UACCM will host their ninth Holocaust Survivor Series event featuring Susan Warsinger from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Coupon Power There will be a seminar for those who use coupons from 5-6:30 p.m. on Monday at the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library in Dardanelle. Yell County Retired Teachers Meeting There will be a meeting of the Yell County Retired Teachers at 11 a.m. on...

Community people: Hugh Dorminy, Don Moore and Russell RichterTHE COURIER / Submitted Rotarian Hugh Dorminy (center) recently spoke to the Russellville Downtown Rotary Club about food production, technology and GMOs. He is the former vice president of Cargill Meat Solutions and national pork board member for six years. With Dorminy is Club President Don Moore and Rotarian Russell Richter.

Community people: Sheri Shirley, Dr. Stephen Jones and John ShoptawTHE COURIER / Submitted The recent Happy Dollars donation that the Russellville Rotary Club gives out every calendar quarter went to the Oakland Heights after-school program called "Steps Dance." This is an after-school, non-district-funded program started by the Oakland Heights staff to teach children the skills of dancing. In May of each year the children in the program have a recital. Accepting the funds was Oakland Heights principal Sheri ...

From a 1975 edition of the Democrat CourierReprinted from a 1975 edition of the Democrat Courier. Skillets will be put to a different kind of use when the Russellville Kiwanis Club holds its annual "Pancake Day" at the Hughes Center. Publicity chairman Bob Hammerschmidt (left) encourages overall chairman Vince Merkel (center) to get the ticket sales up to a high level as Aaron DuVall (right), chairman of one of the ticket selling teams, gives assistance.

Sunnyfield Extension Homemakers meetingThe regular meeting of the Sunnyfield Extension Homemakers was held Feb. 7 at the home of Glenda Anderson. She served a delicious meal of barbecue sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, strawberry pie and assorted drinks. The meeting was then opened and Glenda welcomed guests and read the Thought for the Month: No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop. LaDonna Yeager led the group in singing the hymn "I Love To...

Community calendarThe Pope County Election Commissioners will meet at 2 p.m. on Friday at the election headquarters located at 1509 E Main, Suite 7, Russellville. The meeting will be about the upcoming elections for the city of Russellville. American Legion event American Legion post 20, of Russellville, will be having a singing event at 6 p.m. Thursday. Everyone is welcome. Attendees do not have to be veterans. There will be a $2 fee. PCWAC dance The Pope Coun...

Culture Club holds Christmas luncheonThe Culture Club Christmas Luncheon was on Dec. 14 at Lake Point Conference Center. After lunch, a short meeting was led by President Roberta Medley. The club gave a donation to Toys for Tots. Two names were selected from the Senior Tree and the gifts were taken to the Senior Center. The next meeting will be held at Debbie Beard's and Jean Oates will present the program. The date has been set for the Christmas Luncheon next year. Everyone wish...

TV Weekly gets upgradeFor some time now readers have asked us to include satellite and ArkWest channels in our Sunday TV Book. Well, it's finally here! Launched last month TV Weekly now includes channels for all area providers. Here's how it works: At the top of each channel grid is a legend for the providers, AR = ArkWest, DN = Dish Network for example. On the right side of the grid are the corresponding channels. Suddenlink channels are still listed on the left o...

2016 Graduation Section coming this SundayArea High School graduates will be represented in their own special section in The Courier this Sunday May 8. The 20-page section is sure to be a keepsake if you have a senior graduating this year. Extra copies of the section will be available at our office.

RussVegas runners, did we spot you?The RussVegas half marathon was, by all accounts a huge success. If you didn't win you can't blame the weather, it was perfect for a run through our fair city. Our photographers were out trying to capture as many faces as they could, so make a point to go to our photo gallery and see if we spotted you.

Best of Best ballots in and being tabulatedThanks to our readers who voted in our annual Best of Best - Readers Choice awards. Voting is closed and the ballots are being tabulated. Winners will be announced in a May 29th section in The Courier.

Poll: Dover gym worth keepingNearly 300 voted in our most recent online poll on the issue of what to do with the "old gym" at Dover. The school district has asked for community input so we asked couriernews.com viewers, What should be done with the gym? Here's what the votes said. 47% for restoring it as a community center or public use space and build a new gym. 29% replace, it would be too costly to restore. 24% restore to a functioning gym, it's an historic part of Dov...

Win $50! Best of Best voting underwayThe Courier's long standing reader's choice contest, Best of Best is underway. Ballots are appearing in The Courier beginning this week and will run through mid-April. We've made the process more user friendly this year by breaking the ballot into two individual full-page ballots grouping complementary categories together. The best thing? You could win a $50 gift certificate to one of the Best of Best winners if your completed ballot is chosen...